Arsenal's top-four hopes assessed after Sterling and Richarlison transfers plus Ronaldo decision

Three weeks from today marks the start of the new Premier League season and for the second year in a row, Arsenal are first up as they face Crystal Palace away from home in the Friday night curtain-raiser.

Having got off to the worst possible start last season by losing their opening three games without scoring a goal, whilst the Gunners did manage to recover to be involved in the top-four race, those dropped points right at the beginning ultimately proved costly and they can't afford a repeat of that situation.

To Mikel Arteta and Edu's credit, wrapping up deals for Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Gabriel Jesus before the middle of July means Arsenal should be better prepared for the start of the 2022/23 campaign than they were 12 months ago and there's still time to bolster the squad before facing the Eagles.

With the battle for Champions League qualification likely to be hotly contested once again next season, the Gunners will have been keeping a close eye on what their rivals for a top-four spot have done so far in the transfer market and will continue doing so all the way up until deadline day.

With Manchester City and Liverpool expected to contest the title race next season, two spots will be up for grabs and many are of the opinion that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will be in the mix, especially as all four clubs have either conducted some good transfer business or are likely to do so shortly.

As a result, we have taken a look at what the Gunners' rivals for a top-four spot have so far in the summer transfer window and exactly what it means for Arteta and his side's chances of returning to Europe's top table for the 2023/24 season.

Just Raheem Sterling so far, but the Blues